DADADEL
A healthy 28-year-old has made a poignant decision that challenges societal norms and ethical considerations: she has chosen euthanasia for the following month. This deeply personal choice raises profound questions about autonomy, quality of life, and the boundaries of medical intervention.
Zoraya ter Beek, aged 28 and in robust health, has decided to undergo euthanasia next month.
Euthanasia, the deliberate ending of life to alleviate suffering, is subject to varying legal frameworks across nations. Contention surrounds the ethical and moral dimensions of euthanasia.
Dr. Death garnered attention with his ‘suicide capsules,’ offering a swift and painless end to those seeking it.
Now, headlines are stirred by the choice of a physically well lady to pursue euthanasia voluntarily.
Zoraya ter Beek resides in a quaint Dutch village near the German border. Despite enjoying perfect physical health, she has decided to conclude her life in May 2024.
The news of her choice has ignited extensive debates across various online platforms.
One commentator expresses, “I am a supporter of the right to die and death with dignity IF the person is terminally ill and is suffering. I always thought that Sweden and the Netherlands were ahead of their time when these laws were created.”
Echoing the sentiment, another commenter shares, “This is heartbreaking, but her body, her choice, it’s as simple as that. I can understand her choice. I’m lucky that I found medication which at least takes the edge off.”
A third individual acknowledges in solidarity, “I give her SO much credit. A person KNOWS when they have had enough. She is done. Pure and simple. I wish her a safe and smooth transition. This woman is a hero.”
However, a dissenting voice challenges ter Beek’s decision, expressing concern: “You are a beautiful young woman and can do whatever you want, but suicide is not the way to go. You can find other options, don’t waste your life that others would love to have.”
The Netherlands regulates euthanasia under the Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide (Review Procedures) Act, implemented in 2002.
According to Statista, “In 2022, there were 8,720 reported cases of euthanasia in the Netherlands. This is an increase of around 1,000 of such cases compared to the previous year and the highest in the recorded time period.”
The Government of the Netherlands states, “Euthanasia and assisted suicide are legal only if the criteria laid down in the Dutch Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide (Review Procedures) Act are fully observed. Only then is the physician concerned immune from criminal prosecution. Requests for euthanasia often come from patients experiencing unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement. Their request must be made earnestly and with full conviction. They see euthanasia as the only escape from the situation. However, patients have no absolute right to euthanasia and doctors no absolute duty to perform it.”
Stef Groenewoud, a healthcare ethicist at Theological University Kampen, observes a concerning trend regarding euthanasia. He notes, “I’m seeing euthanasia as some sort of acceptable option brought to the table by physicians, by psychiatrists, when previously it was the ultimate last resort. I see the phenomenon, especially in people with psychiatric diseases, and especially young people with psychiatric disorders, where the healthcare professional seems to give up on them more easily than before.”
Zoraya ter Beek contends with depression, autism, and borderline personality disorder, finding life under these conditions intolerable, prompting her desire to cease living.
Speaking to The Free Press, the healthy 28-year-old recounts her psychiatrist’s solemn declaration: “There’s nothing more we can do for you. It’s never gonna get any better.”
She adds: “I was always very clear that if it doesn’t get better, I can’t do this anymore.”
The healthy 28-year-old plans to undergo euthanasia comfortably on her sofa, to spare her boyfriend the burden of tending to her grave after cremation.
According to ter Beek, the process is characterized by a compassionate approach from the doctor, who takes time to create a soothing atmosphere, often starting with a cup of coffee to ease nerves.
She says: “The doctor really takes her time. It is not that they walk in and say, ‘Lay down, please!’. Most of the time it is first a cup of coffee to settle the nerves and create a soft atmosphere. Then she asks if I am ready. I will take my place on the couch. She will once again ask if I am sure, and she will start up the procedure and wish me a good journey. Or, in my case, a nice nap, because I hate it if people say, ‘Safe journey’. I’m not going anywhere.”
She adds: “I’m a little afraid of dying because it’s the ultimate unknown. We don’t really know what’s next – or is there nothing? That’s the scary part. I don’t see it as my soul leaving, but more as myself being freed from life.”
Do you think this healthy 28-year-old is making the right choice? What do you think of people deciding to undergo this procedure? Let us know in the comment section below.
